Illinois at a glance
A dash or a missing box means the official pages we read do not state that rule; we never fill it in from memory.
Illinois’ rules, with sources
- State form
- The Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice approved a set of statewide eviction forms that all Illinois courts must accept.3
- Illinois’ approved Notice of Termination for Non-Payment of Rent, form E-TR 3505.2, is the notice commonly called the 5-Day Notice.1
- The Illinois 5-Day Notice must warn that only full payment of the rent demanded waives the landlord’s right to end the lease, unless the landlord agrees in writing to accept a partial payment.1
- Deadlines
- On the Illinois form, the tenant has 5 days after service to pay the full amount, or a longer period the landlord enters when the lease or local law requires more time.1
- Delivering the notice
- Under 735 ILCS 5/9-211, an Illinois notice is served by handing a copy to the tenant, leaving it with a resident aged 13 or older, sending it by certified or registered mail with a return receipt, or posting it when no one occupies the premises.2
- Whoever serves the Illinois notice is expected to complete the approved Affidavit of Service of a Demand or Notice.1
- Law
- In Chicago, a tenant facing a nonpayment eviction can end the case by paying all back rent and the landlord’s court filing fees until the judge issues an order of possession.4
Questions about an Illinois pay-or-quit notice
Is there an official Illinois 5-day notice form?
Yes. The Illinois Supreme Court approved form E-TR 3505.2, Notice of Termination for Non-Payment of Rent, and the state’s courts must accept it. It is free on the Illinois Courts eviction forms page, along with the affidavit of service.
The form already carries the warning that only full payment of the rent demanded stops the termination unless the landlord agrees in writing to take a partial payment.1,3
How many days does an Illinois tenant have to pay after a 5-day notice?
Five days after the notice is served, unless the lease or a local ordinance gives more; the form has a box for a longer period. If the rent is not paid in full, the lease ends and the landlord may file an eviction case.
In Chicago, the city’s Fair Notice Ordinance lets the tenant stop a nonpayment case by paying the back rent and the landlord’s filing fees any time before an order of possession.1,4
How is an Illinois eviction notice served?
By handing it to the tenant, by leaving it with someone 13 or older who lives at or occupies the unit, or by certified or registered mail with a return receipt. If nobody is in possession, it can be posted on the premises.2
What to have at hand
- Property address, unit and county
- The exact rent past due and the rental periods it covers
- Who takes the rent, where, and the hours for paying in person
- Whether the property has a federally backed mortgage or a federal housing program
It does not evict anyone. Only a court can order a tenant out; this notice is the step that usually comes before filing.
Where this information comes from
Illinois’ rules above come from the state’s own statutes, agency pages and forms, read on the date shown. A rule that passes its review date without a new check is removed automatically.
- Notice of Termination for Non-Payment of Rent, form E-TR 3505.2 (Illinois Supreme Court approved form, PDF) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- 735 ILCS 5/9-211, Service of demand or notice (Illinois General Assembly) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- Approved Statewide Forms — Eviction (Illinois Courts) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- Know Your Rights: Fair Notice Ordinance (City of Chicago, Department of Housing) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
Something changed? Tell us what is out of date and we will check the official page again.